Ex-JI deputy chief Prof Khurshid dies

LONDON: Professor Khurshid Ahmad, former deputy emir of Jamaat-e-Islami and renowned economist, passed away at the age of 93 in the city of Leicester, United Kingdom.

According to a spokesperson of Jamaat-e-Islami, Professor Khurshid had been unwell for some time, and news of his death has deeply saddened party workers and intellectual circles alike.

Professor Khurshid was not only a close associate of Jamaat-e-Islami founder Syed Abul A’la Maududi but also remained active for decades in the fields of Islamic economics, education, and social welfare.

He was considered a prominent advocate for promoting an Islamic economic system in Pakistan.

In recognition of his contributions to the Islamic world, he was awarded the King Faisal Award in 1990. The government of Pakistan also honored him with the prestigious civil award, Nishan-e-Imtiaz, in 2011. He was also the first recipient of the Islamic Development Bank Award.

Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Deputy Emir Liaqat Baloch, and other leaders expressed deep sorrow over Professor Khurshid’s passing and paid tribute to his scholarly, intellectual, and religious services.